Process of forming billets in the manufacture of machine-made horsehoes.



I11 ventor Attorneys.

i B-EEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD DEC. 11, 1906.7

A. SMITH. PROCESS OF FORMING BILLBTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE MADEHORSESHOES.

APPLICATION FILED N0\T.2. 1903.

1n: NORRIS PETERS ca., wasumo'mu. n 54 No. 838,471. PATENTEDDEG.11,1906.

A. SMITH. PROCESS OF FORMING BILLETS IN THE MANUFACTURE or moms MADEHORSESHOES.

Arrmoumn nun NOV. 2. 1903;

3 BHEETS-QHBET S.

I nvctot Witfisses 0M,

Atto meys.

1n: "mums PETERS 00.. WASHINGTON u c.

N0. 838,471. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906- Al PROGESS 0P FORMING BILLBTS INTHE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE MADE H0 SHOE PLIOATI AP 0 ED 30 908..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In w n tor MSW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR SMITH, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN HORSE SHOECOMPANY, OF PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF FORMING BILLETS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINE-MADEHORSESHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Original application filed April 11,1903, Serial N0.152,105. Dividedandthis application filed November 2,1903. Serial No. 179.56 7- To allrah/0m, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses of Forming Billets in the Manufacture of Machine-MadeHorseshoes, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to processes of forming billets in the manufactureof machinemade horseshoes; and the improvement relates particularly tothe process of forming the so-called crease in the strand-billet, whichis subsequently cut into the desired lengths.

At the present time in the manufacture of machine-made horseshoes asuitable billet, having first been heated to the required temperature,is by means of rolls gradually reduced in cross-section to form a longstrandbillet, essentially rectangular in cross-section, but with one ofits sides slightly inclined. The strand-billet is then passed betweencreasing-rolls, by means of which the metal is formed with a successionof creases on its face near the inclined side, each crease being formedat intervals with deeper depressionsadapted to be subseqluently punchedthrough to constitute the nal -holes.

Heretofore the practice, so far as I am aware, has been to form thecreases by assing the strand-billet between rolls, one aving arectangular groove which is partly entered by the tongue-roll, thelatter carrying the creasing-dies. This process of manufacture has beenopen to the objection, among others, that the narrow web on the creasedside of the billet becomes distorted opposite the crease, owing to thefact that the sides of the groove must be vertical. Otherwise the billetcould not enter or leave the groove. The billet made in the mannerheretofore in use has had to be restored to its original shape by beingpassed through planishing-rolls, greatly increasing the cost ofmanufacture.

It is the object of the present invention to crease the strand-billet inone operation.

In carrying out the invention the strandbillet is passed through a passof the same shape as the cross-section of the billet. This roll and atongue-roll, the latter carrying the creasing-dies; but the processcould be carried out without the use of rolls, the pass being formedintegral with or separate from the creasing-dies. The groove is notrectangular, but is of the same configuration as the cross-sectionalshape of the billet with one side inclined. The sides of the pass beingin contact with the billet while the creasing-die is displacing themetal of the billet prevents the web from becoming distorted andobviates the necessity of using planishing-rolls. If, however, the diesbe operated at the customary speed, it will be foundthat their action onthe billet tends to carry the narrow web of metal on the outside of eachcrease toward the bottom of each creasei. e., to reduce the height ofthe web, so that the resulting horseshoe-billets will be badlydistorted. It will also be found that the much thicker web on the otherside of the crease will be distorted, especially the corner adj acent tothe die.

I have discovered that if the speed of movement of the dies bematerially increased it is possible to effect the creasing of the billetwithout any objectionable displacement of the metal, except theformation of a small bur or fin on the back of the billet along the lineof the creased edge and opposite each rolls is made about twice as reatas is now ordinarily employed. In other words, as practiced prior to myinvention creasingrolls having a diameter of eight inches havecustomarily been operated at a shaft speed of about two hundred andfifty turns per minute, giving a surface speed of about five hundred andtwenty-five feet per minute. By increasing the shaft speed of eight-inchcreasing-rolls to about five hundred turns per minute, giving a surfacespeed of about one thousand and fifty feet per minute, any objectionabledisplacement of the material is overcome, since the creasing-diesapparently cut into the metal, and as a result the desiredcross-sectional shape of the billet is retained throughout its length.If creasingpass may be formed in rolls between a groove- 1 rolls ofgreater or lesser diameter be used, the

shaft speed should be properly adjusted, so as to give the desiredsurface speed to the rolls of somewhat more than a thousand feet perminute. I find that if this surface speed be materially decreased theadvantages of my invention are not realized. The surface speed, however,may be increased to any desired or convenient extent, with the consequent utilization of the desirable features of my invention.

In the creasing of a strand-billet by my improved process the billet isformed on its back with square corners, which may be left as such in thefinished horseshoe. If it is desired that these corners should berounded, as is preferable in some instances, the creased billet may bepassed through finishing-rolls for that purpose.

In order that the process may be more fully understood, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, which show one form of apparatus for carrying out myprocess, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of a complete apparatus,showing the means for driving the creasing-rolls at an abnormally highspeed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view of a pair of creasing and tongue rolls and a billettherein, showing the effect of rotating the rolls at the customary rateof speed. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of a horseshoe-billet,showing the effect of rotating the rolls at the customary rate of speed.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a pair of creasing and tongue rolls and abillet therein, showing the effect of rotating the rolls at the highsurface speed, exceeding one thousand feet per min ute. Fig. 6 is a sideview of a portion of a horseshoe-billet, showing the effect of rotatingthe rolls at such high speed; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof.

In all of the several'views like parts are designated by the samenumerals and letters of reference.

The apparatus illustrated consists of a tongue-roll 1, engaging with agroove-roll 2, the latter being mounted in fixed bearings and the formerin vertically-movable housings 3, so that the relation of the two rollsmay be adjusted by means of the screw 4 or other equivalent device.

In the apparatus illustrated the grooveroll alone is rotated at anabnormally high rate of speed by means of an engine 5 and a multiplyingtrain of gears 6, the tongue-roll being rotated by frictional contactwith the groove-roll or the billet; but it is to be under stood that theprocess may be carried out by an apparatus in which both rolls arepositively rotated and in which other means of securing a high shaftspeed is used. The creasing-dies 7 are carried within the groove to thelower roll, which is the reverse of the usual practice, a constructionwhich permits the pass to be of the same shape as the crosssection ofthe horseshoe-billet. The effect of passing a billet through the rollswhen the latter are run at the customary surface speed of about fivehundred and twenty-five feet per minute, which may be accomplished inthe apparatus illustrated by throttling the engine or otherwise reducingits speed, is illustrated in Fig. 3. The web on the creased side of thebillet is badly distorted at a and does not extend to the base of thegroove at b. The same is true as to the other side of the billet; buthere the web is much thicker and the distortion is much less, the cornera being but slightly distorted as compared to the Web a. The billetdistorted in this manner cannot be restored to its originalcrosssectional shape by any known form of planishingrolls, for thereason that the web a is not merely distorted, but partially destroyed.

The effect on the billet of running the rolls at an abnormally highsurface speed L. 6., exceeding one thousand and fifty feet per minuteisillustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive. Here the web a is sharply andclearly defined and is the full depth of the groove. Also the angle aof'the other web is sharp and definite.

I do not know the theory under which my process operates, but believethat the creasing-dies at the abnormally high speed cut into the metalbefore the latter can be gradually displaced in the parts adjacent tothe crease. In forming the crease there is sometimes a slight bur or find on-the back of the billet opposite to the crease. This bur or fin maybe removed by cutting, as by the rotary cutter 8. The square corners ofthe billet may be rounded or beveled, when such is desired, byfinishing-rolls 9, operated in any suitable manner, as by a belt 10. Byrotating the rolls or otherwise moving the dies at the abnormally highspeed described danger of breakage of the creasing-dies is removed. Oneobjection to operating the dies at the customary rate of speed is thetendency of he dies to become crushed and broken. At the abnormally highspeed described I find that the dies will not become broken in use, butare subject ed to but ordinary wear.

The essential features of the invention consist, first, in passing thebillets through a pass of a cross-sectional shape similar to their own,and, second, in operating the dies at such an abnormally high surfacespeed that lateral displacement of the metal is overcome, so as tothereby do away with the necessity of planishing-rolls, as is nowpracticed.

The apparatus described herein is not claimed in this application forpatent, but forms the subject-matter of my case, Serial No. 152,105,filed April 11, 1903.

Having now described my invention, 'what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the art of creasing blanks or bars preparatory to the manufactureof machinemade horseshoes therefrom, the improvement which consists inpassing the blank or bar between creasing rolls operated at asufficiently high surface speed to overcome distortion of the metal,substantially as set forth.

2. In the art of creasing blanks or bars pre paratory to the manufactureof machinemade horseshoes therefrom, the improvement which consists inpassing the blank or bar between creasing-rolls operated at a minimumsurface speed of approximately one thousand feet per minute, wherebydistortion of the metal is overcome, substantially as set forth.

3. In the art of creasing blanks or bars preparatory to the manufactureof machinemade horseshoes therefrom, the improvethe said rolls beingrotated at a minimum 35 surface speed of approximately one' thousandfeet per minute, whereby distortion of the metal is overcome,substantially as set forth. This specification signed and witnessed this29th day of October, 1903.

ARTHUR, SMITH. Vitnesses:

- W. E. WARD,

O. VAN BILLIARD.

